A catch-all term that identifies the user responsible for a nodeA node is a piece of content in Drupal.  A node usually corresponds to a page.  Nodes generally have a title and a body.  Nodes may have more fields (or different names for the two default fields).  Each node has a content type and may be further classified by taxonomy, the node author, and so on.  As the primary building blocks, nodes are the site in a very real way.  A large variety of core and contributed modules are available to alter the way nodes are organized, displayed, and created..

Part of DrupalThe Content Management System (CMS) that powers this website.  It is a free and open source software solution created by Dries Buytaert.  Find more information at Drupal.org. core functionality, blocks are a way of arranging data on a page.  The "Eye Candy" slideshow that appears on the right-hand side of every page is a block, for instance.

Short for web log, a blogShort for web log, a blog is a shared online journal.  Blogs are generally used for posting an individual's personal experiences, hobbies, and/or rants publically.  Remember that one should not write anything in a blog he or she would not want the world to read. is a shared online journal.  Blogs are generally used for posting an individual's personal experiences, hobbies, and/or rants publically.  Remember that one should not write anything in a blog he or she would not want the world to read.

A bookA book is a set of pages that are tied together in a hierarchal structure.  Part of Drupal's core functionality, books are a great way to organize data into an easily navigable structure.  Books may be used for all sorts of purposes, from reference manuals to long works of fiction. is a set of pages that are tied together in a hierarchal structure.  Part of DrupalThe Content Management System (CMS) that powers this website.  It is a free and open source software solution created by Dries Buytaert.  Find more information at Drupal.org.'s core functionality, books are a great way to organize data into an easily navigable structure.  Books may be used for all sorts of purposes, from reference manuals to long works of fiction.

The Content Construction Kit.  A very popular contributed moduleSoftware that extends Drupal's features or functionality.  Core modules (such as book and poll) are included with the system.  Contributed (or "contrib") modules are created by the community, for the community and are available for download at Drupal.org. that allows the creation of custom fields and content types.  A large number of other contributed modules either make use of or extend the CCKThe Content Construction Kit.  A very popular contributed module that allows the creation of custom fields and content types.  A large number of other contributed modules either make use of or extend the CCK..

Used to describe relationships in a hierarchy. A sub-menu would be the childUsed to describe relationships in a hierarchy. A sub-menu would be the child of the menu of which it is a menu, for instance. The parent-child relationship may also be found in book pages and taxonomy terms. of the menu of which it is a menu, for instance. The parentUsed in describing a heirarchical relationship between items.  Parent items contain other items (generally of the same type).  The items that they contain would be child items.  For instance, a menu would be the parent of its submenus.-child relationship may also be found in bookA book is a set of pages that are tied together in a hierarchal structure.  Part of Drupal's core functionality, books are a great way to organize data into an easily navigable structure.  Books may be used for all sorts of purposes, from reference manuals to long works of fiction. pages and taxonomy A method of classifying content, taxonomy allows users to affix labels to content in a variety of ways (selection from lists, free tagging, etc.).  Administrators can make use of these tags to filter or organize content.  For instance, a user with the appropriate permissions could create a page featuring every node tagged "foo", or perhaps a page that featured every node tagged "foo" and "bar" but not "baz".  The taxonomy system is both incredibly flexible and powerful. terms.

Content Management System.  A collection of tools for the creation, management, and organization of a data set (information including text, images and media files).  This website is an example of a CMSContent Management System.  A collection of tools for the creation, management, and organization of a data set (information including text, images and media files).  This website is an example of a CMS, for instance (Drupal)., for instance (DrupalThe Content Management System (CMS) that powers this website.  It is a free and open source software solution created by Dries Buytaert.  Find more information at Drupal.org.).

Allows users to provide feedback on a nodeA node is a piece of content in Drupal.  A node usually corresponds to a page.  Nodes generally have a title and a body.  Nodes may have more fields (or different names for the two default fields).  Each node has a content type and may be further classified by taxonomy, the node author, and so on.  As the primary building blocks, nodes are the site in a very real way.  A large variety of core and contributed modules are available to alter the way nodes are organized, displayed, and created..  On this website, such users must be logged in to post comments.  An "Add new comment" link or interface is provided at the bottom of any page whose authorA catch-all term that identifies the user responsible for a node. (or the site's default settings) has allowed comments.

Most simply: a machine for performing calculations automatically.
More accurately: a programmable device that performs calculations and logical operations based on a set of instructions. May typically access, process and store large amounts of data very rapidly.

Each nodeA node is a piece of content in Drupal.  A node usually corresponds to a page.  Nodes generally have a title and a body.  Nodes may have more fields (or different names for the two default fields).  Each node has a content type and may be further classified by taxonomy, the node author, and so on.  As the primary building blocks, nodes are the site in a very real way.  A large variety of core and contributed modules are available to alter the way nodes are organized, displayed, and created. belongs to a single node type (content typeEach node belongs to a single node type (content type) that sets various defaults, determines what sorts of data may be entered, how the data will be displayed, and so on.) that sets various defaults, determines what sorts of data may be entered, how the data will be displayed, and so on.

Central Processing Unit.  This performs the data processing in a computerMost simply: a machine for performing calculations automatically. More accurately: a programmable device that performs calculations and logical operations based on a set of instructions. May typically access, process and store large amounts of data very rapidly..  It does the actual thinking.  Processors with greater clock speed can do this faster.  The actual time it takes for a modern microcomputer to process data is so miniscule that even seemingly large variations in clock speed produce negligable differences in desktop responsiveness.  Greatly more important than clock speed is the number of cores available.

The Content Management System (CMSContent Management System.  A collection of tools for the creation, management, and organization of a data set (information including text, images and media files).  This website is an example of a CMS, for instance (Drupal).) that powers this website.  It is a free and open source software solution created by Dries Buytaert.  Find more information at Drupal.org.

Filters are used to strip out unwanted elements from content before they are displayed, alter the entered data in some way (such closing HTML tags as necessary), or increase the functionality of entered data (such as the automagic linking of glossary terms).

The central component of a computerMost simply: a machine for performing calculations automatically. More accurately: a programmable device that performs calculations and logical operations based on a set of instructions. May typically access, process and store large amounts of data very rapidly.'s operating systemSoftware that controls the execution of other programs, responds to hardware events (such as clicking the mouse), manages memory and executes hardware events (like saving something to disk).  The operating system, then, acts as a host to all other software that runs on a computer, from spreadsheets to video games to the web browser with which you are reading this.  It also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and software, making efficient programs easier to write because applications do not need to know how to talk to all the various types of hardware out there. that deals with managing system resources and acting as a bridge between hardware and software.  In biological terms, the kernelThe central component of a computer's operating system that deals with managing system resources and acting as a bridge between hardware and software.  In biological terms, the kernel could be thought of as the brain stem. could be thought of as the brain stem.

Software that extends DrupalThe Content Management System (CMS) that powers this website.  It is a free and open source software solution created by Dries Buytaert.  Find more information at Drupal.org.'s features or functionality.  Core modules (such as bookA book is a set of pages that are tied together in a hierarchal structure.  Part of Drupal's core functionality, books are a great way to organize data into an easily navigable structure.  Books may be used for all sorts of purposes, from reference manuals to long works of fiction. and poll) are included with the system.  Contributed (or "contrib") modules are created by the community, for the community and are available for download at Drupal.org.

A mash-up of "net etiquette", netiquetteA mash-up of "net etiquette", netiquette describes the unwritten rules of interaction and social conventions that assist communications over a network.  These rules tend to vary widely between communities and the consequences for infractions of the rules are similarly variable.  There do exist a great many guides to netiquette across the Internet and one may greatly benefit from taking the time to peruse them. describes the unwritten rules of interaction and social conventions that assist communications over a network.  These rules tend to vary widely between communities and the consequences for infractions of the rules are similarly variable.  There do exist a great many guides to netiquette across the Internet and one may greatly benefit from taking the time to peruse them.

A nodeA node is a piece of content in Drupal.  A node usually corresponds to a page.  Nodes generally have a title and a body.  Nodes may have more fields (or different names for the two default fields).  Each node has a content type and may be further classified by taxonomy, the node author, and so on.  As the primary building blocks, nodes are the site in a very real way.  A large variety of core and contributed modules are available to alter the way nodes are organized, displayed, and created. is a piece of content in DrupalThe Content Management System (CMS) that powers this website.  It is a free and open source software solution created by Dries Buytaert.  Find more information at Drupal.org..  A node usually corresponds to a page.  Nodes generally have a title and a body.  Nodes may have more fields (or different names for the two default fields).  Each node has a content typeEach node belongs to a single node type (content type) that sets various defaults, determines what sorts of data may be entered, how the data will be displayed, and so on. and may be further classified by taxonomy A method of classifying content, taxonomy allows users to affix labels to content in a variety of ways (selection from lists, free tagging, etc.).  Administrators can make use of these tags to filter or organize content.  For instance, a user with the appropriate permissions could create a page featuring every node tagged "foo", or perhaps a page that featured every node tagged "foo" and "bar" but not "baz".  The taxonomy system is both incredibly flexible and powerful. , the node authorA catch-all term that identifies the user responsible for a node., and so on.  As the primary building blocks, nodes are the site in a very real way.  A large variety of core and contributed modules are available to alter the way nodes are organized, displayed, and created.

Software that controls the execution of other programs, responds to hardware events (such as clicking the mouse), manages memory and executes hardware events (like saving something to disk).  The operating systemSoftware that controls the execution of other programs, responds to hardware events (such as clicking the mouse), manages memory and executes hardware events (like saving something to disk).  The operating system, then, acts as a host to all other software that runs on a computer, from spreadsheets to video games to the web browser with which you are reading this.  It also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and software, making efficient programs easier to write because applications do not need to know how to talk to all the various types of hardware out there., then, acts as a host to all other software that runs on a computerMost simply: a machine for performing calculations automatically. More accurately: a programmable device that performs calculations and logical operations based on a set of instructions. May typically access, process and store large amounts of data very rapidly., from spreadsheets to video games to the web browser with which you are reading this.  It also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and software, making efficient programs easier to write because applications do not need to know how to talk to all the various types of hardware out there.

Used in describing a heirarchical relationship between items.  ParentUsed in describing a heirarchical relationship between items.  Parent items contain other items (generally of the same type).  The items that they contain would be child items.  For instance, a menu would be the parent of its submenus. items contain other items (generally of the same type).  The items that they contain would be childUsed to describe relationships in a hierarchy. A sub-menu would be the child of the menu of which it is a menu, for instance. The parent-child relationship may also be found in book pages and taxonomy terms. items.  For instance, a menu would be the parent of its submenus.

In DrupalThe Content Management System (CMS) that powers this website.  It is a free and open source software solution created by Dries Buytaert.  Find more information at Drupal.org., permissionsIn Drupal, permissions control access to content.  Permissions provide the ability to allow users with the appropriate role to access, create, edit, and/or delete various types of content.  There are contributed modules available that can increase the granularity of the permissions system, allowing an administrator to grant specific permissions to individual users or groups. control access to content.  Permissions provide the ability to allow users with the appropriate roleRoles define how a user may utilize this website.  Roles are best defined as a set of permissions that allow groups of users specific liberties from creating content to administering site configuration (even up to creating new roles and users!).  A user may belong to more than one role at a time.  Generally speaking, a user's liberties reflect his or her "highest" role. to access, create, edit, and/or delete various types of content.  There are contributed modules available that can increase the granularity of the permissions system, allowing an administrator to grant specific permissions to individual users or groups.

Random Access Memory.  A form of temporary data storage.  It is used by programs as a place to execute their functions and store their data while a computerMost simply: a machine for performing calculations automatically. More accurately: a programmable device that performs calculations and logical operations based on a set of instructions. May typically access, process and store large amounts of data very rapidly. is powered on.  All data stored in RAM is lost when power is removed from the system.  In biological terms, RAM could be thought of as short-term memory.  It is where the computer holds the stuff about which it is thinking.

Roles define how a user may utilize this website.  Roles are best defined as a set of permissionsIn Drupal, permissions control access to content.  Permissions provide the ability to allow users with the appropriate role to access, create, edit, and/or delete various types of content.  There are contributed modules available that can increase the granularity of the permissions system, allowing an administrator to grant specific permissions to individual users or groups. that allow groups of users specific liberties from creating content to administering site configuration (even up to creating new roles and users!).  A user may belong to more than one role at a time.  Generally speaking, a user's liberties reflect his or her "highest" role.

Really Simple Syndication.  A Web protocol allowing the publishing of frequently updated content (like a blogShort for web log, a blog is a shared online journal.  Blogs are generally used for posting an individual's personal experiences, hobbies, and/or rants publically.  Remember that one should not write anything in a blog he or she would not want the world to read.).  Pages that collect this data are usually called web feeds or just feeds.  RSSReally Simple Syndication.  A Web protocol allowing the publishing of frequently updated content (like a blog).  Pages that collect this data are usually called web feeds or just feeds.  RSS is useful for aggregating news headlines or similar content from a variety of sources into a single place. is useful for aggregating news headlines or similar content from a variety of sources into a single place.

Abuse of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited (and occasionally harmful) bulk messages.  Spamming is not limited to email and can be found amongst every form of electronic communication.  Spamming is bad.  Don't do it.
On a side note, never click any links in an unsolicited email.  Clicking the "Remove me from your mailing list" link included with most spam merely informs the spammer that the mailbox is "live" and serves to further propagate your email address to even more spammers.

A method of classifying content, taxonomy A method of classifying content, taxonomy allows users to affix labels to content in a variety of ways (selection from lists, free tagging, etc.).  Administrators can make use of these tags to filter or organize content.  For instance, a user with the appropriate permissions could create a page featuring every node tagged "foo", or perhaps a page that featured every node tagged "foo" and "bar" but not "baz".  The taxonomy system is both incredibly flexible and powerful. allows users to affix labels to content in a variety of ways (selection from lists, free tagging, etc.).  Administrators can make use of these tags to filterFilters are used to strip out unwanted elements from content before they are displayed, alter the entered data in some way (such closing HTML tags as necessary), or increase the functionality of entered data (such as the automagic linking of glossary terms). or organize content.  For instance, a user with the appropriate permissionsIn Drupal, permissions control access to content.  Permissions provide the ability to allow users with the appropriate role to access, create, edit, and/or delete various types of content.  There are contributed modules available that can increase the granularity of the permissions system, allowing an administrator to grant specific permissions to individual users or groups. could create a page featuring every nodeA node is a piece of content in Drupal.  A node usually corresponds to a page.  Nodes generally have a title and a body.  Nodes may have more fields (or different names for the two default fields).  Each node has a content type and may be further classified by taxonomy, the node author, and so on.  As the primary building blocks, nodes are the site in a very real way.  A large variety of core and contributed modules are available to alter the way nodes are organized, displayed, and created. tagged "foo", or perhaps a page that featured every node tagged "foo" and "bar" but not "baz".  The taxonomy system is both incredibly flexible and powerful.

A meaningless term used in propaganda.  Different users expect wildly different functionality that is impossible to simultaneously implement into a single interface to best serve all possible configurations.  User friendliness is often evenly divided across two camps:  very easy to learn but impossible to master even for a dedicated user, and very difficult to master but astoundingly efficient and responsive to an appropriately knowledgable user.  Generally speaking, software that is easy to use with little or no experience is impossible to work with efficiently at an advanced level as such functionality tends to be buried in sub-sub-submenus.

ViewsViews is a contributed module that allows a user with sufficient permissions (an administrator, likely) to create new (and hopefully interesting) ways to display content.  The Views interface is complex but fairly intuitive and allows for the creation of pages whose content is fetched from the database based on a set of options.  Views can display (or not display) any of a node's attributes or fields in a nearly unlimited number of ways.  The "Eye Candy" block on the right side of every page is a good example of what Views can do:  whenever a new Image node is created it is automagically added to the rotation. is a contributed moduleSoftware that extends Drupal's features or functionality.  Core modules (such as book and poll) are included with the system.  Contributed (or "contrib") modules are created by the community, for the community and are available for download at Drupal.org. that allows a user with sufficient permissionsIn Drupal, permissions control access to content.  Permissions provide the ability to allow users with the appropriate role to access, create, edit, and/or delete various types of content.  There are contributed modules available that can increase the granularity of the permissions system, allowing an administrator to grant specific permissions to individual users or groups. (an administrator, likely) to create new (and hopefully interesting) ways to display content.  The Views interface is complex but fairly intuitive and allows for the creation of pages whose content is fetched from the database based on a set of options.  Views can display (or not display) any of a nodeA node is a piece of content in Drupal.  A node usually corresponds to a page.  Nodes generally have a title and a body.  Nodes may have more fields (or different names for the two default fields).  Each node has a content type and may be further classified by taxonomy, the node author, and so on.  As the primary building blocks, nodes are the site in a very real way.  A large variety of core and contributed modules are available to alter the way nodes are organized, displayed, and created.'s attributes or fields in a nearly unlimited number of ways.  The "Eye Candy" blockPart of Drupal core functionality, blocks are a way of arranging data on a page.  The "Eye Candy" slideshow that appears on the right-hand side of every page is a block, for instance. on the right side of every page is a good example of what Views can do:  whenever a new Image node is created it is automagically added to the rotation.

Users that are not logged in to the site.  Also known as guests.

"What You See Is What You Get"
This is a catch-all description of a word processor (or other computing tool) in which the finished product looks (nearly) identical to what the user is editing.  The look and feel of the text area editor used around this site is a good example of such a tool.